John Harbaugh shares striking take on Bill Belichick’s UNC move

The Baltimore Ravens aren’t directly tied to Bill Belichick’s latest career move, but their head coach, John Harbaugh, couldn’t resist chiming in. The six-time Super Bowl champion stunned fans this week by accepting the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina. After dominating the NFL for over two decades, Belichick is heading back to his roots—teaching and developing players at the collegiate level.

Naturally, the move sent shockwaves across football circles, and Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh had plenty to say about it. Harbaugh, who faced off against Belichick 12 times during their NFL careers, praised the decision and offered insight into what makes his former rival a perfect fit for the job.

While some might question why the NFL’s most successful coach would leave the pros, Harbaugh wasn’t surprised. In fact, he believes North Carolina is about to become one of the hottest destinations for aspiring football players.

Bill Belichick and UNC receive glowing recommendation from John Harbaugh

When asked about Belichick’s latest venture, Harbaugh didn’t hold back his admiration. “I’m really happy for coach,” Harbaugh said during Friday’s media session. “I texted him—I haven’t heard back yet. He’s been a little bit busy. He’ll be amazing. He’ll do a great job.”

Harbaugh went on to explain why he thinks Belichick will thrive at UNC:

“He’s going to have a bunch of guys that like football, that want to be great, that want to work hard, that think about football going home, coming into work. If you’re interested in football and want to be great at what you do, North Carolina is going to be a destination.”

The Ravens’ official Twitter account shared Harbaugh’s comments, further amplifying the praise:

It’s clear Harbaugh sees this as more than just a career pivot for Belichick—it’s a natural evolution for a coach who has spent decades shaping football’s biggest stars.

Harbaugh also touched on how coaching at different levels still comes down to the same principles. “Coaches coach,” he said. “You can coach at any level… The ability to connect with guys, put the players first, build a team—all those things are the same.”

The timing might feel odd for fans who associate Belichick with NFL dominance, but Harbaugh emphasized this is something the legendary coach has always dreamed of. “To say, ‘I always dreamed of this,’ that speaks to him,” Harbaugh added. “That’s something he’s always thought about wanting to do; now he gets a chance to do it.”

Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who won two Super Bowls under Belichick in New England, echoed similar sentiments. Van Noy said college players joining Belichick’s program will be “coming very, very prepared into the NFL.”

For Harbaugh, who hosted Belichick at the Under Armour Performance Center earlier this year, the move represents Belichick’s deep love for the game and his desire to teach it at every level. It’s not about proving anything—it’s about passion.

As for what this means for UNC, Harbaugh’s message was clear: with Bill Belichick at the helm, the Tar Heels just became one of the most intriguing programs in college football.

In an era when coaching transitions are often about money or ego, Belichick’s jump to North Carolina feels refreshingly genuine. If John Harbaugh is right, the Tar Heels are in for something special—and so is the future of college football.

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